Readers sound off on aging politicians, N.Y.’s third football team and proselytizing in Israel

Our rules should prevent a geriatric leadership

Brooklyn: More than ever, it is apparent that we need term and age limits in our government. There are presently 20 members of Congress at the age of 80 or older. Many of them hold powerful positions on their committees due to seniority, with many serving 20 years or more in their positions.

Of course, the glaring example of the need for age limits is the current president and the reports that he has been in cognitive decline for a number of years. If true, this coverup by his aides is a disgrace and a disservice to the country.

More than half of the U.S. Senate is over the age of 60, like Chuck Grassley, now at 91. Obviously, this is not representative of the country as a whole.

A good way to reduce the age of our representatives and ensure greater accountability would be to enact term limits for members of Congress. I would suggest that a person can not serve more than 12 years (two terms in the Senate and six terms in the House of Representatives) before mandatory retirement. The president would be limited to age 76 starting with the next election.

The argument that term limits are not necessary since these members need to run for reelection does not address the issue of the huge advantage that incumbents have when running for reelection, and that is why few are defeated. Robert Mascali

Over their heads

Manhattan: Whenever I see the term “word salad” used, whether by Voicers or public figures (Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana is one of its biggest fans), I am reminded of recent studies showing that one-third of American adults have the reading comprehension of a 10-year-old. Michael Barnhart

Mediocre merit

Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: Vivek Ramaswamy said that American workers were mediocre compared to foreign-born workers because of our culture. Perhaps President Trump will realize that his choice to lead the Department of Government Efficiency was at best mediocre and replace him with someone more attuned to the American worker’s capabilities. Anthony Vegliante

Foreign threats

Little Egg Harbor, N.J.: I am afraid this country has been infected with a stupid virus. Doesn’t anybody realize that Ukraine has two or three nuclear plants where Russia keeps attacking? The idea is that Russia will take over those plants and they will have the greatest advantage over us. Since Trump is Vladimir Putin’s buddy, he will then have the power to become not our president but our dictator. That has always been Trump’s goal. It matters not who he is choosing for his cabinet because he will fire them at will. He says he wants the country to be run by Americans for Americans, but Elon Musk is South African and he does not believe in workers having any rights. He has always been against all unions and he is Trump’s brain trust. America, we are in for a bumpy ride! Rose S. Wilson

Libel liability

Brooklyn: ABC News and George Stephanopoulos ceded $15 million to Trump for saying that he “raped” E. Jean Carroll rather than sexually abused her, as the court charge specified. Out of fear, “Morning Joe” Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski went to Mar-a-Lago right after Trump won to curry favor and kiss his ring. The New York Times ran an article about the billionaires of Silicon Valley who voted for Trump and are waiting to receive their rewards. These are people who look like liberals and intellectuals, but they are only looking to get richer from Trump’s promotions. Trump will not tolerate criticism. Who ever heard of a sitting president suing someone? Could you imagine G.W. Bush or Barack Obama having their minions pressing court action against an individual? Will the Voice of the People come under fire soon, and will all of us be afraid to speak out for fear of losing our meager financial assets? Ed Temple

Empty accusation

Hicksville, L.I.: Voicers Susan Cassano and T.S. Fallani are the typical hateful, bigoted lefties who just love to call everyone racist when they have nothing else to say. How did that work out for you in the 2024 election? You conflate legal immigration with illegal because, as usual, you think with emotion rather than logic. I wonder how the family of the woman set afire in the subway, along with the countless others murdered by people who should have never been here in the first place, would view your rants. Both of you haters have no idea of the person I am, but if opposing unfettered and unchecked immigration makes me a bigot, then so be it. John Gelormino

It’s crazy out there

Rego Park: I’m always attempting to weigh my manhood against the bravest of the brave. I don’t know what’s scarier, patrolling the streets of Kabul while always on the lookout for suicide bombers and IEDs, or trying to grow old in a city of the cunning and the desperate while hoping to stay solvent and in one piece. I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto. Jeff Rosenblatt

I needed that

Massapequa, L.I.: To Voicers Eva Tortora and Alan Podhaizer: Thank you for your kind words to all of us. It was such a nice feeling of peace and love for the moment, bringing tears to my eyes, instead of reading insults every day and feelings of hate. Jean Marie Chiaramonte

Pro-3-pointers

Narragansett, R.I.: To Voicer Dennis Burge: I like the NBA’s three-point shot. It has changed the game for the better. It has opened up the floor and made comebacks exciting, probably changing the game as much as Frank Keaney with racehorse basketball at Rhode Island State College (now called the University of Rhode Island). Jeff Tkacs

Black-sheep team

Garwood, N.J.: I am writing to the Daily News Sports Department: You have a calendar listing teams, opponents and times for the next seven days. Don’t you think it’s about time you include the Buffalo Bills? My reasoning includes that they are a winning team that nearly always gets into the playoffs, and unlike the Jets and Giants, they are a New York team. Perhaps you might try this for the balance of the NFL schedule, as in two weeks, the Jets and Giants will be home playing golf while the Bills will continue on in the playoffs. Go Bills Mafia! John E. Deichmeister

Loose with ‘legendary’

Teaneck, N.J.: In the Rickey Henderson obit the other day, you called Henderson legendary. You also called sports columnist Mike Lupica legendary. Years ago, The News had a legendary sports columnist, Dick Young. He was great, a pleasure to read. Lupica has a long way to go before he merits legendary status. Lew Azaroff

Give it up

Brooklyn: The New York State Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 17 that the mayor can not switch retired NYC workers to a Medicare Advantage plan. The mayor plans to keep trying. How many more times will he be allowed to do this? Enough is enough. Court after court continues to rule. Stop harassing us and instead clear up your scandal-plagued administration. Ed Greenspan

What about them?

Brooklyn: To Voicer Sid Sussman: In your numerous anti-Israel letters, you have not once called for Hamas to release the hostages. This would end the war. Wendy Jackson

Jewish messiah

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: There’s a Youtube video showing a Christian in Tel Aviv reading some passages from the Bible to a small group of Jews: “Like a lamb He was slaughtered, like a sheep that is silent before his shearers… He was pierced through for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquity… by His stripes we are healed.” One of them interrupted, saying he was reading from the New Testament, which is about Jesus Christ. The Christian showed them that he was not reading from the New Testament, but from Isaiah, chapter 53. They were surprised. Many synagogues don’t permit Isaiah, chapter 53 to be read. The Jewish prophet Daniel was given a vision of “One like a son of man coming with the clouds” (Dan. 7:13). Jesus Himself said, “You will see the son of man coming with the clouds” (Mt. 24:30). Jim Black